Jim McDivitt
18K Gold American Museum of Natural History Medal
Lot Closed
July 15, 02:17 PM GMT
Estimate
12,000 - 18,000 USD
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Description
JIM MCDIVITT
18K Gold American Museum of Natural History Centenary Medal, New York,1969, 63 mm diameter, 204 grams. . Obverse with the Museum’s “Chubb mount” logo of skeletons of a rearing horse and man encircled by laurels and engraved “JAMES A. MCDIVITT / APRIL 9, 1969.” Reverse features the Museum’s south facade bisecting a globe and surrounded by a pterosaur, a space capsule, and three small stars. Reverse encircled with the text “THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY 1869-1969.” Rim engraving reads “for Leadership Among Men in the Search for Knowledge” and “MAC 18K” to signify that it was struck in 18K by Medallic Art Co, New York.
Originally from the personal collection of Apollo 9 Commander James McDivitt
TO GEMINI IV AND APOLLO 9 MISSION COMMANDER JAMES MCDIVITT; ONE OF EIGHT AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY GOLD CENTENARY MEDALS EVER AWARDED.
The American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) celebrated the one hundredth anniversary of the signing of its charter on April 9, 1969. To commemorate the occasion, the Museum held an academic procession of its curatorial staff and a formal dinner. The Museum logo, featured on the obverse of this medal, was reproduced on advertisements throughout New York City.
At the dinner, Gardiner Stout, Museum President, presented these medals “for Leadership Among Men in the Search for Knowledge” to the Apollo 9 crew: Colonel James “Jim” McDivitt, Mission Commander; Colonel David Scott, Command Module Pilot; and Mr. Russell “Rusty” Schweickart, Lunar Module Pilot. The present lot is the medal awarded to Colonel McDivitt.
Five more gold centenary medals were awarded to distinguished scientists: Dr. Theodosius Dozhansky, widely considered to be the founder of evolutionary genetics; Dr. Libbie Hyman, famous zoologist and writer known for her work on invertebrate and vertebrate zoology; Dr. Ernst Mayr, world-famous evolutionary biologist; Dr. Margaret Mead, renowned cultural anthropologist and writer; and Dr. George Gaylord Simpson, a paleontologist known for his contributions to evolutionary theory.
One of only nine gold medals ever awarded, the present lot not only encapsulates the legacy of a historic scientific institution, but it also celebrates the bravery and innovation of the Apollo Program as well as all scientists and explorers who lead the continued search for knowledge. Records indicate this is the first of these medals to come to auction.